MEMBER NEWS

James LeClaire w/ Kennedy LeClaire @ Red Bird Thursday, June 11th, 2026, Doors 7:00 - Show 8:00 Red Bird - Ottawa, ON James Leclaire releases his 3rd record in three years on June 1st with an album release show at Red Bird Live on June 11th. It will be available on vinyl and CD. The evening will start off with a set by folksinger Kennedy Leclaire. Afterwards, James will take the stage solo but at times be accompanied by Margaret Maria on cello, Natalie Cross on fiddle, Philli

The McDades: Thread The Light Release: May 29, 2026 For more than two decades, The McDades have been carving out a sound that refuses to sit still. Rooted in Celtic and Canadian folk traditions, the Juno and Canadian Folk Award–winning ensemble blends the freedom of jazz improvisation with global rhythms, deep grooves, and an unshakable sense of family. What began as a shared language learned at home has grown into a musical conversation that continues to evolve onstage and

David James Allen: The Moonlight Waltz David James Allen returns with “The Moonlight Waltz” (out May 22, 2026 via Littleknown Records), a late-night country-soul waltz steeped in wah guitar, pedal steel, and a swirly lived-in groove. Drawing from the spirit of The Band, Little Feat, and classic country-soul, the track reflects on closing-time bar culture, the pull of freedom and excess, and the lonely cost of self-destruction. Warm, cinematic, and reflective, it’s a song abou

Hayley Bleho: Bethany, The debut single from Montreal singer-songwriter Hayley Bleho, “Bethany” centres around her childhood best friend who moves across the country after elementary school. Across recesses, lunch breaks, and anxiety-filled birthday parties, the lyrics chart the emotional ups and downs and insecurities of a kid struggling for a sense of belonging even before her closest friend is uprooted. Carried by folk-inflected guitar playing and dreamy alt-rock vocals, a

Macsmusic: Winter Is Here Ken McLachlin, who performs as macsmusic, lives in Point Edward, located in southwestern Ontario. A longtime folk music artist, he recently released his third solo EP album titled Winter Is Here. The album is a reflective look at life from someone who has more years behind him than ahead of him. As such, Ken thought that the season of Winter would be the most appropriate metaphor. Winter Is Here has a very grassroots, acoustic guitar, folk feel that

Kari Lyn: Killing Time (the Fish Song) Self-proclaimed cottage core rockstar Kari Lyn unveils “Killing Time (the Fish Song),” a hopeful, theatrical folk-country rocker that marks the beginning of a brand new era. The first single from an upcoming six-song EP, the track embraces spontaneity, adventure, and the joy found in life’s in-between moments. Equal parts playful and reflective, “Killing Time (the Fish Song)” feels like driving into the sunset with the windows down; cine

Folklore Junction: Summer Dates Catch Folklore Junction Live this summer! SHOW DATES Jun 13 - Music for Miracles - Kitchener, ON Jun 21 - New Dundee Artisan Festival - New Dundee, ON Jun 24 - Ayr Music in the Park - Ayr, ON Jun 27 - WWRC Summerfest - New Hamburg, ON Jul 9 - WCMA Summer Concert Series - Wellington, ON Aug 26 - Templin Gardens Music Festival - Fergus, ON Sep 6 - Belwood Lake Classic Car Show - Belwood, ON Sep 18 - Block Three Brewing Company - St. Jacobs, ON Cl

Brian Blain’s Blues Campfire @ The Rivoli Sunday, May 31, 2026 3-6 pm The Rivoli - Toronto, ON Brian Blain's Campfire Jam was a fixture on Toronto's blues jam circuit until COVID struck. It never got going again after the pandemic, but thanks to the initiative of one of Toronto's iconic music venues, the Rivoli on Queen Street West, it has a new lease on life, and this month it is the Toronto Blues Society's "Jam of the Month" for May. Brian is inviting some TBS "old-timers"

Robert Thomas @ Grassy Hill New Folk Competition Part of the Kerrville Folk Festival May 23-June 5, 2026, Kerrville, TX Robert Thomas will perform at the Kerrville Folk Festival's Grassy Hill New Folk Competition. Thomas is the lone Canadian on the roster of 20 Finalists selected from over 2000 applicants. Since 1973, the Grassy Hill New Folk Competition has been at the heart of the Kerrville Folk Festival’s mission to champion songwriters and their craft. More than just a c

Eileen McGann @ The Coulson Concerts Sunday, May 31 @ 2:00 PM Historic Coulson Church - Oro-Medonte, ON Tickets $25 First, you notice her voice, a “clear, astounding voice” (Boston Globe), and then, the songs: beneath the strong, rhythmic guitar and the haunting melodies, there are lyrics that demand attention. Whether a witty political zinger, a rare ancient ballad, a rollicking canoeing song or an anthem to a Canadian landscape, a McGann song stands out from the crowd. Ju